[BHW2436]

It’s hard to say whether it was ever “close”.

https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/01/23/nf...rd-connecticut

Kraft didn’t want to leave Mass. Mass didn’t want to have Patriots leave, nor did the NFL. Hartford really did want Pats though and made a great offer.

Kraft remained in the drivers seat the whole time and ultimately got what he really wanted.

[SteveM85]

Originally Posted by BHW2436

It’s hard to say whether it was ever “close”.

https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/01/23/nf...rd-connecticut

Kraft didn’t want to leave Mass. Mass didn’t want to have Patriots leave, nor did the NFL. Hartford really did want Pats though and made a great offer.

Kraft remained in the drivers seat the whole time and ultimately got what he really wanted.

So now we’re going to debate how “close” it was? Who cares it was a helluva lot closer than the “New England Founders”.
Whoever came up with that cockamamy name should be banned from ever getting on a keyboard again Jesus Christ.

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Except it wasn’t a “lunatic fantasy” or “mad ravings”. It was a quick signature away from being a reality. The Patriots owner, Robert Kraft, backed out at the very last minute. It couldn’t have been closer.

I doubt the NFL would've let a team leave a market the size of Boston for one the size of Hartford that easily, especially given that it would put it 100 miles closer to the NYC market. It was down to the signature stage, but somehow I can't imagine it would've ever truly been allowed to happen. Maybe a "half the home games in Hartford, half in the Boston-Providence area" deal, like the Packers used to have with Milwaukee and the Bills had a for a few years with Toronto would've been the end result.

[SteveM85]

Originally Posted by 7 Wishes

I doubt the NFL would've let a team leave a market the size of Boston for one the size of Hartford that easily, especially given that it would put it 100 miles closer to the NYC market. It was down to the signature stage, but somehow I can't imagine it would've ever truly been allowed to happen. Maybe a "half the home games in Hartford, half in the Boston-Providence area" deal, like the Packers used to have with Milwaukee and the Bills had a for a few years with Toronto would've been the end result.

The NFL was ok with it if the stadium met their standards. Kraft is and was a very influential owner.

[robr2]

Kraft opted out of the agreement with CT two days before it was set to expire. MA offered $72 million for infrastructure, the NFL provided a $150 million interest free loan, and Kraft provided the last $175 million.

CT offered:

$374 million for the stadium with any savings to be paid directly to Kraft
Fully fund infrastructure that would empty parking lots in 1 hour
Pay for any unsold luxury boxes
Pay any shortfall in advertising revenue due to playing in a smaller market
Increase the above ongoing payments based on league average growth.

Kraft walked away from billions.

[ryanthegoldengod]

Originally Posted by robr2

Kraft opted out of the agreement with CT two days before it was set to expire. MA offered $72 million for infrastructure, the NFL provided a $150 million interest free loan, and Kraft provided the last $175 million.

CT offered:

$374 million for the stadium with any savings to be paid directly to Kraft
Fully fund infrastructure that would empty parking lots in 1 hour
Pay for any unsold luxury boxes
Pay any shortfall in advertising revenue due to playing in a smaller market
Increase the above ongoing payments based on league average growth.

Kraft walked away from billions.

Seems to have worked out pretty well for him. He was never coming here. He was negotiating in bad faith. Hartford was the scare tactic which allowed him to shakedown Mass for money to build Gillette Stadium.

[ryanthegoldengod]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Except it wasn’t a “lunatic fantasy” or “mad ravings”. It was a quick signature away from being a reality. The Patriots owner, Robert Kraft, backed out at the very last minute. It couldn’t have been closer.

Jay, it was a farce. He wanted funding from MA to build Gillette Stadium. They were resisting. Pretending to go to Hartford was his hardball scare tactic. It worked. Hartford was the bait he used to reel in the fish that was Gillette. Nothing more. Now in theory the Mass state legislature could have STILL refused funding and said, "Don't let the door hit you, Bob". But that was never going to happen. They were never going to let the Patriots leave greater Boston for Hartford. But they needed a little scaring first. He played Rowland and MA like a fiddle. Just like he played the Jets like a fiddle to steal Bellichick. Just like he played the NFL like a fiddle to make Spygate and Deflategate go away. Just like he played the courts like a fiddle to make Orchids Of Asia to go away. Kraft does a good sweet grandfatherly thing these days but he didn't get to be rich by accident.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by ryanthegoldengod

The fact that they are reporting it doesn't necessarily mean they believe it's going to happen. one guy is going around saying he's trying to make it happen is still news. John Rowland once declared the Patriots were on their way to Hartford! That was also a lunatic fantasy but was the media not supposed to report his mad ravings?

Reporting on the governor is one thing, reporting on some dude in his home office making a bad logo is another level of bad journalism.

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by ryanthegoldengod

Jay, it was a farce. He wanted funding from MA to build Gillette Stadium. They were resisting. Pretending to go to Hartford was his hardball scare tactic. It worked. Hartford was the bait he used to reel in the fish that was Gillette. Nothing more. Now in theory the Mass state legislature could have STILL refused funding and said, "Don't let the door hit you, Bob". But that was never going to happen. They were never going to let the Patriots leave greater Boston for Hartford. But they needed a little scaring first. He played Rowland and MA like a fiddle. Just like he played the Jets like a fiddle to steal Bellichick. Just like he played the NFL like a fiddle to make Spygate and Deflategate go away. Just like he played the courts like a fiddle to make Orchids Of Asia to go away. Kraft does a good sweet grandfatherly thing these days but he didn't get to be rich by accident.

Nice to see a post which understands the hardball of pro sports business.

Spot on.

Kraft had to let it appear close, and Gillette was his reward for playing his hand of cards well.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by ryanthegoldengod

Seems to have worked out pretty well for him. He was never coming here. He was negotiating in bad faith. Hartford was the scare tactic which allowed him to shakedown Mass for money to build Gillette Stadium.

But he didn't get any money from the state for Gillette. The state provided HALF of what he originally wanted and all the money was spent on improving the roadways around the stadium. Kraft fully funded the building of the Gillette.

The article I read noted that moving and cleaning the steam plant site was going to take 4 years. Kraft didn't want to spend 4 seasons as a lame duck team in the old Foxboro Stadium. If Rowland could have delivered in 24 months as proposed, it might have gone through.